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Colorado House committee kills bill to increase punishment in child sex crimes
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Colorado House committee kills bill to increase punishment in child sex crimes

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics A Democratic-controlled House committee killed legislation that supporters said would put more teeth into Colorado law following hours of testimony, in which victims who were bought and sold as children for purposes of sexual exploitation sought to persuade lawmakers to advance the measure.   House Bill 1092 would have mandated minimum sentences for those who buy children for sexual exploitation. The bill was heard in the House State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, which is also known as the "kill committee." On Thursday, the panel lived up to its nickname, killing the bill on an 8-3 party-line vote. Advocates said they aren't giving up and promised to be back next year. More than 50 witnesses packed ...
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Colorado lawmakers give green light to bill prohibiting adult use of cellphones while driving
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Colorado lawmakers give green light to bill prohibiting adult use of cellphones while driving

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics A Senate committee Monday gave approval to a measure that will require adults to use hands-free cellphone devices or face harsher penalties for talking on a cellphone while driving. Senate Bill 65 is the latest incarnation of efforts by lawmakers who have been trying for at least 15 years to require adult drivers to keep their eyes on the road, instead of on their cellphones.  Current state law already imposes restrictions around cellphones on drivers under 18. But it's been a much bigger hurdle to impose those same restrictions on adult drivers. The laws affecting adults permit regular cell phone use for voice calls, although they are prohibited from sending text messages or browsing the internet while behind the wheel. ...
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Colorado Senate considers bill to track ‘suspicious’ gun and ammo purchases
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Colorado Senate considers bill to track ‘suspicious’ gun and ammo purchases

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics A bill being proposed in the state Senate would allow credit card companies to assign codes to the purchase of firearms and ammunition. Sponsors of the bill say such tracking would allow law enforcement to track "suspicious activity" that could lead to crime.  Senate Bill 066 was discussed last week by the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee. If it passes, the bill would require payment networks, such as credit card companies, to provide processors with a newly developed merchant category code, or MCC, that will specifically be assigned to firearms and ammunition. This code, which was established by the International Organization for Standardization, or ISO, in 2022, must be assigned by processors to each firearms merchan...
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Cyberattack disables Colorado public defender network
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Cyberattack disables Colorado public defender network

By Michael Karlik | Colorado Politics A malware attack on the state public defender's computer system last week has resulted in the disabling of the office's network, the office confirmed on Monday. A spokesperson for the Judicial Department said the courts themselves were not affected by the cyberattack. "As a preventative measure, we temporarily disabled our computer network and are working to safely and securely bring systems back online. Our operations will be limited while the network is offline," said James Karbach, the communications director for the public defender's office. One judge told Colorado Politics that they learned of the problem as early as Friday afternoon. Eric Ross, a spokesperson for the 18th Judicial District in Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln coun...
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The week ahead at the Colorado Capitol: A glance at hearings and events of note
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The week ahead at the Colorado Capitol: A glance at hearings and events of note

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Here are legislative committee hearings and other events of note for the week ahead for the Colorado General Assembly. Committee schedules are subject to change. Schedules for both the House and Senate can change at any time. This website is the best resource for keeping up with daily activities.  Options for public testimony during committee hearings can be found here.  Regulations for remote testimony by the public can be found here. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Colorado House gives final approval to bills on occupancy limits, foster youth ‘bill of rights’
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Colorado House gives final approval to bills on occupancy limits, foster youth ‘bill of rights’

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics The Colorado House on Friday gave final approval to two major proposals dealing with housing and youth in the foster care system with a few defections among Democrats. House Bill 1007 would block local governments from imposing residential occupancy limits except for public health and safety reasons.  The House had debated HB 1007 on Feb. 2 but waited a full week for its final vote, a signal that the measure might encounter some opposition among Democrats. As it turns out, it did — from leadership. Rep. Shannon Bird of Westminster, who chairs the Joint Budget Committee, and House Majority Leader Monica Duran of Wheat Ridge, who both joined the Republican members in voting against it. READ FULL ARTICLE AT COLORADOPOLITICS.COM...
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Colorado GOP Chair Dave Williams explores using Dominion equipment for party assembly elections
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Colorado GOP Chair Dave Williams explores using Dominion equipment for party assembly elections

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Colorado Republican Party Chair Dave Williams, who criticized Dominion voting machines in the past, appears not averse to using them for the party's upcoming state assembly. Last month, Williams sent a request to El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Steve Schleiker, asking for help with the elections that will be held at the April 6 state party assembly in Pueblo.  "We need to contract with a clerk to administer paper ballots for the State Assembly," Williams said in a a text message obtained by Colorado Politics.  In addition to the help from the clerk, Williams asked for 3,500 paper ballots, and for those ballots to be machine-counted to ensure timely results.  READ THE FUL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Colorado House bill takes on ‘predatory towing’ practices
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Colorado House bill takes on ‘predatory towing’ practices

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Towing companies are on notice to change their towing practices under a bill approved Tuesday by the state House Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee. House Bill 1051 is the work of the Transportation Legislative Review Committee from last fall and the result of attention to what some described as predatory towing that lawmakers thought they fixed a year ago. Small business owners, apartment owners and homeowners' association representatives are raising concerns that the bill's intent to put the onus on property owners to pay for most tows will result in "towing anarchy" and could drive up the costs of affordable and low-income housing. The issue caught fire last summer when Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, found her...
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House bill making toddler items tax-free in Colorado could save families $980 annually, cost the state $8M
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House bill making toddler items tax-free in Colorado could save families $980 annually, cost the state $8M

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics A proposal that seeks to exempt toddler and baby products from the state sales tax narrowly passed its committee first hurdle on Monday. House Bill 1027 proposes to exempt toddler and baby products, such as cribs, swings, clothes, and strollers, from the state sales tax of 2.9%. It would also create two two-week tax holidays for back to school products, including backpacks, school supplies, and computers, under a certain amount. Supporters said the measure would provide relief to parents, while opponents expressed skepticism it would materially offer relief.      A fiscal note said parents could save $980 each year from the tax exemption, which would decrease state revenue by $8 million annually. Meanwhile, the tax ho...
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George Brauchler, once term-limited in 18th District, announces he will run for DA in new 23rd Judicial District
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George Brauchler, once term-limited in 18th District, announces he will run for DA in new 23rd Judicial District

By Ernest Luning | Colorado Politics Parker Republican George Brauchler, the former district attorney for Colorado's 18th Judicial District, announced on Monday he wants his old job back, kind of. After facing term limits three years ago as the top prosecutor in the state's largest judicial district — covering Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties — Brauchler is vying to become the inaugural district attorney from the new judicial district that will be created at the beginning of next year, when the old 18th district splits in two. Brauchler is running for the 23rd Judicial District, the state's first new judicial district in 60 years, which will encompass Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties, while Arapahoe County will have the old 18th district to itself. The seasone...
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